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Healing Books and Movies
Sometimes we get hurt for many reasons, for example, uncertainty of the future, relationships with friends or family and others. These make us find the different ways of healing ourselves. How can we heal our wounded hearts? Now the Chonnam Tribune will recommend books and movies which are very relaxed but are easily able to give good advice.
It Hurts Because It’s the Youth
It is the most well-known book about healing, and you can empathize with the writer and other readers. Professor Kim Nan-do wishes for listening to the voice of youth and likes to give advice for them (us). He writes that youth is the most important gift for young people who can try to doing everything. I cannot agree with some parts of the story but most stories make me rethink my life. Also, the stories in the book let the book become the plaza for people in their twenties because the other people in their twenties have the same worries in life. Reading the book, “It Hurts Because It’s the Youth”, is similar to talking with a clear-headed but thoughtful mentor.
What You See When You Take a Break
We have to do a lot of things and strive for good relationships in our daily lives. However, did you do everything right? Sometimes we brew it up because we were too motivated or did not know how to deal with the situation. Hyemin, the writer of the book, is a Buddhist monk and a professor of the University of New Hampshire. It is not easy to match each of his jobs, but this situation makes him experience and think deeply about many things. The book consists of his short stories, old sayings and his comments. These are all sending the same message, saying “stop and think”. When you read this book, you can have more chances to do something well.
Yoshino’s Barber Shop
With a rural perspective, of children are running down the street saying “good morning ma’am”, the movie started with a peaceful atmosphere but it looks like it might be a little bit strange. All the children have cute but countrified hair style; it is an old tradition of the town. However, a polished Tokyo boy moves into the town, and then the other boys want to change their hair styles. Yoshino, the barber in the town, is a kind but stubborn person who loves and wants to keep his traditional habits. The movie seems like a children’s story but it is for adults. Changes happen everywhere and all the time but it is not easy to accept the changes. The movie talks you; even though it’s hard to adapt to changes quickly, it is not difficult to accept changes.
Eat, Pray, Love
As a columnist in New York, Elizabeth had a nice house and a kind husband. Everything looks perfect but she is not happy. She divorces her husband and takes a journey. The movie is divided into three parts and the parts are linked to three countries; Italy, Indo and Bali, and three keywords; eat, pray and love. These keywords seem very easy to do. When you think about your case, is it really easy? Too much thought will disrupt eating, praying and loving. The journey is a course to find her own life and happiness.
By Kang Min-hee, Guest Reporter
Marathon
Marathon, also known as Running Boy, is about an autistic boy trained to become a winner. The actor Cho Seung-Woo who portrayed an autistic boy Cho-won played the hero based on a true story. Although Cho-won is over twenty years old, he has only a four years’ old intelligence. That’s why he has childlike tastes such as loving TV shows, zebras and having a sweet tooth. And his doting mother, Kyong-sook, portrayed by actress Kim Mi-Sook, supports her son through many aspects under the name of protection. She believes that Cho-won has a talent for running and let him compete with ordinary people in marathons. Does he really enjoy running or has he been justified mother’s ambition? Actually no one knows the right answer and is left to the audience to decide. Autistic people are usually characterized as people with lack of social interaction and communication with normal people. For this reason, many Koreans including his track coach, Jeon-Wook (acted by Lee Ki-Yuong) was reluctant to accept Cho-Won as his disciple. But, at its core, he finally decided to give Cho-won the skills to win the race not only as a runner but also a human being. Like him, many Koreans have prejudice against disabled people. However, you must be moved a lot by their childlike innocence and such enthusiastic attitude. The film shows us how these factors warm the icy heart of desolated people and thus people changed their minds to live for the better. Such subtle and innovative maker’s intention will give us a chance to reflect on our behavior and past.
Pay It Forward
‘Pay it forward’, a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde, was made to a full film by Trevor McKinney who is a twelve-year-old boy in California. This wonderful novel that started from his teacher, Reuben’s extra-credit assignment was to change the world for the better. This idea came up so simple project that people do three good deeds for three people and in exchange, ask each of them to ‘pay it forward’ to another three new people. Then, nine people can get helped and then twenty-seven and more. His first attempt was to help an alcoholic. Second was an elderly woman whose garden messed frequently but the boy gives her a solution to get ripe fruits. And lastly, Arlene lastly got over her despair thanks to his son, Trevor. This is not only his mother but also his mentally scarred teacher, Reuben. The relationship between Arlene and Reuben is the core of this novel as two damaged people learn to “pay it forward”. Actually, Trevor suffered from mother’s alcoholism and his absent father’s abuse. And Reuben is horribly scarred because of the Vietnam War, so he closed himself up. Trevor put it into his action initially like this and eventually ordinary people make extraordinary achievements. Trevor gives us confidence and draws the inspiration to make a wonderful world together.
By Jang Bo-ram, Guest Reporter
장보람, 강민희 객원기자
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